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Thursday, September 07, 2006

First Prayer of Continental Congress Remembered

This day marks the 232nd anniversary of the first official act of the first nationally elected assembly in American history. It was a prayer.

The First Continental Congress convened September 5, 1776, in response to Britain’s enactment of the Coercive Acts. Falling most heavily on Massachusetts, the Coercive Acts imposed martial law, outlawed town hall meetings (a sacred democratic tradition for New Englanders), and closed the port of Boston.

Shortly after they gathered in Philadelphia for the first time, Congress received word that Boston was under military attack. These reports later turned out to be an exaggeration, but they inspired a motion to invite a local Anglican minister to open their formal deliberations in prayer.

A few members objected, citing the diversity in religious faith. Underneath this opposition was increased distrust and hostility for the Church of England. Many Americans, in fact, blamed the Anglican Church for their problems with Britain. But Samuel Adams, a Bostonian widely regarded by historians today as the father of the American Revolution, protested that he was no “bigot” and that he would welcome a “prayer from any gentleman of piety and virtue who was at the same time a friend to his country.”

The First Continental Congress proceeded to invite the Reverend Jacob Duché, the rector of Christ Church in Philadelphia, an Anglican congregation. With that vote, the first national assembly in American history affirmed, on record, the propriety and importance of calling on God. In essence, the Continental Congress subordinated the American cause to God and paved the way for the thirteen colonies to become, as our Pledge declares, “one nation under God.”

Duché’s historic Scripture reading and prayer was a moving experience for the Congress. Several first-hand accounts of the event have the delegates fervently in prayer – many of them with tears streaming down their cheeks. John Adams wrote that “it was enough…to melt a heart of stone.”

Two hundred and thirty-two years have passed since this historic moment, and our Founding Fathers would certainly be appalled to see how thoroughly God and prayer have been driven from the public square. What would particularly incense them is how often their names and their legacy have been used to do it.

Consider Michael Newdow, who has sued to stop kids from reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, so long as it invokes God. He’s also demanded that prayer at presidential inaugurations cease. According to Newdow, “When [the Constitution] was written, it was clear the founding fathers wanted the separation of church and state.”

Of course, the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution follows Duché’s famous prayer by about 17 years. Nevertheless, many of the same men that prayed with Duché in 1774 voted for and campaigned for the First Amendment in 1791. That’s the very same First Amendment, which Newdow so brazenly holds up as proof that the Founders would have agreed with him.

What’s more, the very same Congress that sent the First Amendment to the states for ratification voted to hire chaplains at taxpayer expense for both houses of Congress. And George Washington, who supported the First Amendment, is the one who started the tradition of prayer at presidential inaugurations – as well as adding the words “so help me God” to the presidential oath and taking said oath on the Bible.

Certainly Benjamin Franklin would not have agreed with Newdow. Even before the First Amendment was conceived, Franklin publicly called for prayer at the Constitutional Convention. He reminded the delegates that “God governs in the affairs of men,” and warned that, without “His aid,” they were likely to suffer the same fate as the “Builders of Babel.” Franklin’s motion for beginning each day with a formal prayer was set aside, but the convention recessed for the purpose of worship and prayer. Moreover, Franklin’s suggestion for prayer was the catalyst for the First Congress hiring paid chaplains.

Contrary to Newdow’s claims, America’s Founding Fathers were explicit on the importance of God and religion in public life. Their deeds and their words prove this.

On this anniversary of that historic first congressional prayer, let us commit ourselves to making sure the United States of America remains as they would have it -- one nation under God.

Oh, I almost forgot. That prayer – the one by Duché – was offered in Jesus’ name.

4 comments:

Anonymous
said...

Out of the six men who led the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia, five or them were Khazar Jews. Carl Marx's real name was Mordaci, and he himself descended from a long line of Pharisees. ( Note---Karl Marx wrote the Communist Manifesto, the blueprint for world domination ). No wonder, that Jesus said to the Talmudists, or Pharisees, "Ye are of your father the Devil, and the lusts of your father , ye will do, he was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. (John 8:44)." Again, "I know the blasphemy, of them that say they are Jews, and are not, but are of The Synagogue of Satan" (Rev. 2:9) Karl Marx - “My object in life is to dethrone God and destroy capitalism.” Carl Marx, once wrote that, the goal of the Communists was to quote,. "enter into men's minds and cast God down from his throne." Our forefathers, wrote our Constitution, based on God's law. “I seek social ownership of property, the abolition of the properties class, and sole control of those who produce wealth. Communism is the goal.”—Roger Baldwin, leftist, anarchist, and Communist, was born in Wellesley MA and co-founded the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). “The American people will never knowingly adopt Socialism. But under the name of ‘liberalism’ they will adopt every fragment of the Socialist program, until one day America will be a Socialist nation, without knowing how it happened.”— Norman Thomas, Socialist Party Presidential Candidate in 1940, 1944 and 1948, co-founder of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). “We can’t expect the American people to jump from capitalism to communism, but we can assist their elected leaders in giving them small doses of socialism, until they awaken one day to find that they have communism.”—Nikita Kruschev, former Soviet Premier/dictator. THE COMMUNIST HAMMER AND SICKLE OF THE WHOLE EARTH The sins of Israel will be forgiven at the time of Jesus' return. This destruction of Babylon foretold in Jeremiah, chapters 50, and 51 is the destruction of end time Babylon, the Mystery Babylon of Revelation 17, and 18. Verses in this chapter 50 refer to the hammer and sickle of this prophetic Mystery Babylon. The prophet Jeremiah is talking to prophetic Babylon, in verse 16, of Jeremiah 50 where it says; Jer. 50:16: Cut off the sower from Babylon, and him that handleth the SICKLE in the time of harvest: Then verse 23, the prophet still speaking against Babylon, says; Jer. 50:23: How is the HAMMER of the whole earth cut asunder and broken! How is Babylon become a desolation among the nations! In Jeremiah 50, which prophecies of the destruction of end time Babylon, as does Revelation 17, and 18 the two major symbols which identify end time Babylon are given as the "HAMMER AND THE SICKLE." Babylon is here called, the" HAMMER OF THE WHOLE EARTH," and her activities are called, in verse 16, the handling of the SICKLE. In Revelation 17, and 18 Mystery Babylon is said to be clothed in scarlet or red, the beast upon which she rides, is red, the official color of Communism is red, they call themselves the Reds, and their Communist flag is a red flag, with a hammer and a sickle upon it. In all the descriptions of Mystery Babylon, this end time world power, it is the Christians, the Saints of God, who are the victims of this power, and the ones against who it makes war. In Luke 21:12, Jesus spoke of these last days, and the anti-Christ Jewish warfare, to be waged against Christians. Under Babylon's system of economics, debt and usury are perpetual, and as can be seen in America, transfer all land, and wealth, to the Jewish bankers. Now you can see why, God calls the end time system of rule, and oppression over America, and in other nations of the world, by the name of Babylon. Babylon has a religion also, from the same book, on page 338, it says; Babylon was not only a commercial metropolis, but a religious one also, as can be seen from an inscription, which they have decoded. Altogether there are in Babylon, 53 of the chief gods, 55 chapels of Marduk, 300 chapels to the earthly deities, 600 for the heavenly deities, 180 alters for the goddess Ishtar, and Isis, and they go on, and on. This was a very religious society. Then the author quotes out of Herodias, he says But the most vicious practice of the Babylonians, was the following. Every woman in the country, must take her seat in the shrine of Aphrodite, and once in her life, consort with a stranger, and only when she has been with him, and done her service to the goddess, is she allowed to go home. The religion of Babylon, required pre-marital sex, of all of its women, the same condition and practice, which is encouraged in America today. Little do Christians realize today, that the proponents, and promoters of pre-marital sex, are really the Babylonian's, who have invaded this land, and who are trying to foist on us, all of their anti-Christ religion, of Ancient Babylon. Part of that religion of Babylon, which is revealed in, "Haley's Bible Handbook," was the offering, as human sacrifices of little babies, to be killed by the medical priests of Baal, who were the medical professionals of that day, and they offered these little babies to their god. This is the same condition we have in America today. This human sacrifice is called abortion, and carried out, by the medical priesthood in America, in their dark abortuaries of death. These same people in America, who promote pre-marital sex, are right there with advice, for the unmarried pregnant girl, to tell her just where to go, and who to see, to get her baby killed. It is possible, that we have Priests of Babylon, in our America today, who have disguised themselves within the medical profession, to carry out these ancient murder rituals, right under our noses. There are other mysterious practices, being foisted on our people, and on our nation today, which fit the system, and the religion of Ancient Babylon, and Egypt. Modern Babylon's rule over America-Zion is about gone. Babylon is being found out, and God is bringing her into remembrance, to give to her the wine of his wrath. The last verses of Revelation 18, show that the wicked, and the evildoers will cry, when Babylon falls. Verse 19, says; Rev. 1:19: And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! For in one hour is she made desolate. 20: Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her. We are called upon to rejoice over the destruction, of the Babylonian system of world rule, and oppression. Verse 21, says; Rev. 18:21: And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all. Babylon will disappear, as does a stone cast into a river or into the sea. In 1962, the American Supreme Court, reversed the legal opinion established earlier, by the earlier Supreme Court, that declared that indeed America was, and is a Christian Nation. The supreme court ruled in 1962, on that day of infamy,' that Christian Bible reading, and Christian Prayer, in Christian America's public schools, and public places, would now be illegal. In 1962-1963, the Supreme Court of this country, unconstitutionally rejected this Christian Foundation Stone. Due to their infamous judgement, It is now against the law to have Christian Prayer in the American Public School System, and public institutions of this government. This American Supreme Court's judgment, in effect, made this foundation stone of America , a rejected stone. This act in effect, made America 's foundation stone, 'a rolling stone.' It is now against the law to publicly, and officially acknowledge that, Jesus Christ is the foundation stone of America . Durring the birth of our country the King taxed America without representation, when his tax collectors came to collect the King’s taxes many Americans replied with “I Have No King but King Jesus!” Two thousand years ago Pilate asked "Shall I crucify your king?" "We have no king but Caesar," the chief priests answered. John 19:1-16 (New International Version) 1Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. 2The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe 3and went up to him again and again, saying, "Hail, king of the Jews!" And they struck him in the face. 4Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews, "Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him." 5When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, "Here is the man!" 6As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw him, they shouted, "Crucify! Crucify!" But Pilate answered, "You take him and crucify him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him." 7The Jews insisted, "We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God." 8When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, 9and he went back inside the palace. "Where do you come from?" he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer. 10"Do you refuse to speak to me?" Pilate said. "Don't you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?" 11Jesus answered, "You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin." 12From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jews kept shouting, "If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar." 13When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judge's seat at a place known as the Stone Pavement (which in Aramaic is Gabbatha). 14It was the day of Preparation of Passover Week, about the sixth hour. "Here is your king," Pilate said to the Jews. 15But they shouted, "Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!" "Shall I crucify your king?" Pilate asked. "We have no king but Caesar," the chief priests answered. 16Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified. Matthew 27:11-26 (New International Version) 11Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" "Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied. 12When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. 13Then Pilate asked him, "Don't you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?" 14But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor. 15Now it was the governor's custom at the Feast to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. 16At that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas. 17So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, "Which one do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?" 18For he knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him. 19While Pilate was sitting on the judge's seat, his wife sent him this message: "Don't have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him." 20But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed. 21"Which of the two do you want me to release to you?" asked the governor. "Barabbas," they answered. 22"What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?" Pilate asked. They all answered, "Crucify him!" 23"Why? What crime has he committed?" asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, "Crucify him!" 24When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. "I am innocent of this man's blood," he said. "It is your responsibility!" 25All the people answered, "Let his blood be on us and on our children!" 26Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified. When you Have No King but King Jesus you release truth, freedom, all that is good and holy! When you have no king but Caesar you release evil, criminals of destruction, just as the crowd did 2000 years ago when they released Barabbas! No King but King Jesus!

Interesting comment showing a twisted mixing of history and anti-jewish nazi doctrine. Why do I say this in reply? Because, hold on to your seats, Jesus *is* Jewish. He, (G-d in the flesh, the WORD of G-d, manifest in human form,) is not only a Jew, but The King of the Jews. And King of the universe. So get over it, "jews" aren't bad, we are all human and all sinners. Only some wanted to crucify Him, many more belived. Over 3,000 jewish people believed in Jesus Christ on the day of Pentecost.

Three.Thousand.Jews.

Count 'em. 3k vs a handfull of people in power who felt threatened and lied to get him convicted on false charges.

Think about that next time you aim your slander-cannon at the people G-d selected to be called "His" people. Not perfect, sinners, just like you and I. But HIS PEOPLE nonetheless. Selected by Christ Himself, Messiah, G-d with us... get the idea?

In fact, if you'll read more carefully your history, you will note how very hard the Founding Fathers worked to avoid claims of a "Christian nation." Jefferson was very deliberate in choosing the words "laws of nature and nature's God" in the Declaration, a much broader view of God and Providence. These were mostly Christian men who had followed nearly two centuries of American and English history and found that the best way for Christianity to propagate itself unhindered was to create a government that both acknowledges God/Providence in the broadest sense and, at the same time, expresses no bias towards or against any expression of religion...Christian or otherwise.

I have the "tower of Babel" quote attributed to James Madison addressing a gathering of patriots in Washington D.C. 1in 1832 as recorded in a letter to Thomas S. Grimke, January 6, 1834.

“All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of Superintending providence in our favor. To that kind providence we owe this happy opportunity of consulting in peace on the means of establishing our future national felicity. And have we now forgotten that powerful friend? “I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth—that God governs in the affairs of all. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings, that ‘except the Lord build the House they labour [sic] in vain that build it.’ I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without his concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better than the Builders of Babel: We shall be divided by our little partial local interests; our projects will be confounded, and we ourselves shall become a reproach and bye word down to future ages.”

Who Writes This Blog?

Brian Tubbs is an expert on leadership and personal development. He has written extensively on those subjects, as well as American history, Christian living, and relationships. He currently serves as the pastor of Olney Baptist Church in Olney, Maryland. He is married with two children, and lives in the Washington, DC metropolitan area.